Many people are interested in armeria—planting and caring for it outdoors is not at all difficult, and if planted correctly and the right spot in the garden is chosen, it will delight you with its beauty for a long time. Armeria prefers moist areas and does not tolerate drought. In the wild, it grows primarily near water bodies, where it thrives.
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Planting in open ground
There are three ways to plant or propagate armeria: planting seeds directly in a designated spot in the garden, planting seedlings, dividing the bushes, and cuttings.
- The plant is sown in the ground by seeds before winter; they germinate evenly and without problems. Seedlings should be planted in early spring, starting in February and no later than March. Once the weather warms up and leaves appear, they can be transplanted outdoors.
- Planting by cuttings allows you to propagate armeria throughout almost the entire warm season. Small rosettes are separated from the bushes, planted and rooted directly in the ground, or you can use a plastic-covered container, and then the rooted plants are transferred to the garden.
- Divisions are another convenient way to propagate armeria, dividing mature 2-3-year-old plants. They are simply dug up, carefully separated, and planted in a new location, leaving about 20 cm between plants. In fact, you can plant them even more densely, which will create a beautiful, dense carpet of plants.
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Caring for armeria
Armeria is not at all difficult to care for, and it does not cause any particular trouble for the gardener - water it on time, fight weeds, feed it periodically for good growth and flowering, and prune it periodically.
Regarding fertilizing, armeria should be fed before flowering to promote vigorous flower growth and prolong the flowering period. Then, feed it a couple of times during the summer with mineral or organic fertilizers. Prune it with pruning shears as soon as active flowering has ended, allowing it to bloom again and provide a long-lasting delight. Many varieties of armeria will remain green and beautiful throughout the winter, but turf-type armeria, for example, should be pruned and covered with spruce branches for the winter. That's all there is to caring for this beautiful plant.
Popular types of armeria
Seaside Armeria – pleases the eye of the gardener with a variety of colors: purple flowers alternate with pink, red, carmine, can bloom for more than 2 months, and grows up to 20 cm in height.
ThriftwoodJuniper-leaved celandine, also known as juniper-leaved celandine, is a beautiful perennial with narrow, rosette-shaped leaves. It produces bright red/pink flowers in abundance, covering the foliage. The blooms last for 1.5 to 2 months. It is quite winter-hardy and is often grown in the northwest, but requires good drainage.
Pests and diseases
Another advantage of armeria is that it's almost disease-free and pest-free. The only problems it may face are rhizome rot if overwatered, and leaf spotting may occur. In this case, fungicides should be used, as spotting impairs flowering. Aphids can also attack armeria. For prevention, treat your favorite plants a couple of times in the spring with products like Intavir or Kinmix, and aphids will be safe from attack.
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